Operating means for closures



JunevZl, 1932. T. L. vDIGGINS OPERATING MEANS FOR CLOSURES 3 Sheets-Sheet Filed July 25 1.928

ATTORNEY June 2l, 1932. T D|GG|N5 1,863,923

' OPERATING MEANS' FOR CLOSURES Filed July 25, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

... I'Tl Y INVENTOR Z7 i N BY fha@ Lgggz'iz;

W. ATTORNEY OPERATING MEANS FOR CLOSURES Filed July 25. 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VENTOR BY Tia/22m Z. g'ggmx A TTORNEY Patented June 2l, 1932 UNirso STATES PATENTE OFFICE THOMAS L. DIGGINS, -OFVlVlIL'lON, OREGON, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO ERNEST HAB- RIS, 0F SEATTLE, EVASHING-TON, AND TWO-THIRDS T0 R. GUNZEL, OF FREEWATER,

OREGON OPERATINGMEANS FOR CLOSURES Application filed July 23, 1928. Serial No. 294,806.

`This invention relates to an operating means for closures, adapted more particularly for garage doors, and oneobject ot' the device is to provide an operating lmeans which, by the use ot'a worm shaft, secures the closure at any position against the resistance of that shaft and `thereby acts as a lock for the same whether closed or opened.

Another object of the invention is to provide an operating means for closures hung from a trackthat will secure the closure upon that track against malicious removal therefrom.

A further object lof the invention is to provide an operating means for closures that will provide for a lateral sliding movement of the closures, and their operation by an automobile asa power source, thereby permitting the automobile to advance close to the closure for operation and thus conserving space.

A further object of the invention is to provide an operating means for closures that is eXpansible for installation, for use under varying conditions and dimensions of a garage or closure.

A further object of the invention is to provide an operating means for closures that will provide a braking means that will bring the closure to rest with a yielding action thereby preventing jar. e

A further object of the invention is to provide an operating means -for closures that Y will obviate the necessity of the driver of the vehicle dismounting to open 4or close the lflnor of the garage, warehouse gates, or the A further object of the invention is to provide an operating means for closures that may be encased as protection against weather con ditions, dust, and the like, and which may be insulated from temperature effects by the use of oil in the cases, which oil obviously will form a lubricating means for the moving parts.

A further object of the invention is to provide an operating means for closures that will provide a light or vother signal upon the opening -oi the closures.

VA Jfurther object of theinvention'is to prof vide an operating means for closures that is simple in its construction, comparatively easy to install, relatively rcheap to manufacture and that is highly eiiicient in operation.

lVith these and other objects in view reiference is now had to the accompanying draw e vice showing the braking means adapted to provide a yielding stop for the closure;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view showing one of the sleeves and its relative position with the closure and channel (in section) in which the sleeve travels in its operation;

Fig. 5 shows the signal operating means as attached `to the extension of the sleeve, the latter being shown in section;

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of a garage in rather diagrammatic form showing the upper surface of the rollers as being the only exposed part of the device;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a fragment of the operating means modified by the addition of the eXpansible joints; and

Fig. 8 is a cross section of an expansion sleeve adapted for use in connection *withV the Worm shaft.

Having reference to-the drawings like nuinerals referto like parts throughoutthe several views and the numeral l refers to a garage having closures 2 supported by roll-v ers 8 mounted on a track Ll, the track being Y attached to the garage in the usual manner wherewith to support and guide the doors for a'lateral sliding movement in opening or closing. l Y v ln Fig. l an automobile 5 is outlined by dotted lines and is shown with respect to the operating mechanism, to be described, in a poi .sition preparatory to operating that mechanismgand prior to entering the garage, the

automobile providing the power source therefor.

The device consists of a enannel 6 of general U shaped cross section and which extends from side to side of the garage and in a position parallel to the plane of movement of the closures 2, and this channel may be vprovided with outwardly turned lian O'es 7 thereby providing a threshold for the Garage. The channel is preferably constructed of sheet metal, to the shape shown Fig. 4, and thus provides a receptacle which ,may be readily cleaned and whose sides 8 will form a guide for a worm shaft 9 contained therein and which will now be explained.

Theworm shaft is adapted to be rather centrally positioned within the U of the threshold and is preferably arranged with bearings 10 at its extreme ends whereby a certain flexibility is provided from the nature of the centrally unsupported shaft itself, this flexibility being adapted to compensate for sag in the closures 2 as the slight movement incident to this sag will be compensated for by this flexibility in a manner to be explained.

The worm shaft 9 provided with right and left hand threads, as shown, extending outward from the center thereof, and mounted on the shaft is a pair of sleeves 11, one of which is adapted to threadedly engage the rightl hand thread while the other is adapt` ed to engage the left hand thread by which the sleeves are moved in opposite directions by the rotation in either direction of the worm shaft.

This axial movement of the sleeves 11 is utilized to provide a sliding lateral movement for the closuresand to accomplish this movement each sleeve is formed with Vone of its sides split, as shown at l2, to provide for a yielding engagement of the worm shaft, and the split portion is secured by a bolt 13 passing therethrough upon which is mounted a coil spring 14 adapted to further aid in the ieldinof mounting u on the worm shaft 9. By this means provision is made to compensate for any sag which may occur in the worm shaft or due to the sagging of the closures as with a sleeve of this nature l* any tendency to bind will be obviated.

Each sleeve is provided with an upwardly extended member 15 intended to be securely and removably attached to the closures, preferably at its lower and closingedge 16, lby

means of bolts l17 or other suitable means passed'through the member and closure for the purpose. It will now be seen that by the rotation of the worm shaft that these sleeves and with them the closures will move in a lateral direction to open or close the doors depending upon the direction of rotation of the worm shaft.

To operate this worm shaft, friction rollers 18 are provided which consist of two sets of rollers mounted in the planeand on opposite sides of the worm shaft, and each set consists of two pairs of rollers spaced apart a distance equalling the spacing of the wheels (not shown) of the power source, and with the individual pair of rollers being preferably concave and spaced in adjacent relation to permit the said wheels to rest therebetween and thereupon to provide proper frictional engagement therewith.

As above mentioned there are two sets of these rollers one of which sets are positioned on the outside of the garage at a distance away therefrom to accommodate the rear or driving wheels of the power source when the front end 19 of the automobile is adjacent to the threshold 6 and doors 2 of the garage. In other words these rollers are positioned as close to the garage as possible foreconomical reasons, compatible with the space requiredby the power source. n

The other set of rollers is positioned within the garage and in a manner to receive the wheels of the power source when the vehicle is completely housed Within the building, this positioning obviously being closer to the threshold than the rollers lirst mentioned.

All rollers are mounted on axles 20 or shafts 2l and one roller 22 of each pair is idle and is merely used in conjunction with its fellow to support the wheel or the power source, and the other or power roller 23 is secured upon the shaft 2l which now comprises a laterally positioned drive shaft extended outward for a purpose to be explained.

The rollers are housed in a receptacle 24 similar in construction to that of the channel, and formed therein are journals 25 adapted to receive the axle and shaft respectively of the rollers.

The upper part of the receptacle is open and the rollers project through the opening a sufficient distance to be contacted by the wheels of the power source, and its base provides a firm foundation to support the rollers under the load of the vehicle resting thereon.

The laterally positioned drive shafts 21 are extended outward to terminate adjacent to the outer wall 26 of the garage, and have secured thereon gears 27 adapted to mesh with other gears 28 mounted on a connecting shaft 29 extending from the drive shaft of the outer set of rollers to the drive shaft of the inner set of rollers, thereby forming a connecting mechanism between the two, and a third gear 30 is mounted on the connecting shaft and is positioned to mesh with the driving gear 31 of the worm shaft whereby to rotate that member with the rotation of the rollers.

Enclosing the gears are other receptacles rollers, ltion is idoor with insulate from temperature effects such mov? ing parts as would vnormally be effected by an accumulation of ice or sn'owor the like, and as a further protecting medium the shafts themselves may be protected by a housing 34 that fits over the bearing of the respective shafts as shown, wherewithto protect these members to aid in maintaining their serviceability.

To provide for different lengths of automobiles or like power sources and to provide for garages of different widths, expansible joints may be provided, the joints of the drive shaft and connecting shaft comprising a simple sleeve 35 registering with a flattened or splined end 86, as shown in Fig. 2, butthe main eX expande coupling 37 adapted for use on the worm shaft, shown in section in Fig. V8, which coupling while acting to connect a stub shaft 38 with .the worml shaft 9, wherewith to drive that member, is utilized to move axially on the worm shaft as the sleeve `11 comesV in contact witlithe end 4().of this member upon the `completion of the opening movement of the closure 2, this movement of the coupling being adapted to bring its outer end 41 in contact with a collar 42, shown in Figs. 3 and 7, which collar is connected with a cone 44 or other clutch by means of push rods 45 slidably mounted in the receptacle whereby upon the openinor of the door, the cone clutch will act as a bf'gake and stop the rotation of the various shafts and including the main roller 23 which stoppage will tend to force the drive wheels of the power source from the rollers and the car on its way.

Interposed between the above mentioned collar 42 of the braking means, and the journal 10 formed in the receptacle, is a coil spring 46 which coil spring serves a double purpose of releasing the clutch and providing a bumper which will bring the doors at rest without shock or jar.

As a means of signalling when the door has reached its completely opened position, as for instance when attempting to enter the garage in the dark or for any other reason, a signalling means 47 is provided which -may consist of a bell 48, as shown, or an electric light, or both, and the signalling means may be connected to a suitable power source and terminate in a switch 49 consisting of yielding blades 50 mounted in the path of the a contact blade 51 attached prefferably to the extension member 15 of the sleeve 11 whereby when the door is opened the contact will be completed and thus complete the signalling In use and preparatory to entering the garage the automobile is driven forward until its driving wheels rest upon the outer and withl the wheels continuing moimparted to these rollers, thus rotatansion joint to be considered is the ing the drive shafts, which inturn rotates the connecting shafts, and these in turn rotating the worm shaft whereby the doors are opened with a sliding and lateral movement. As the doors approach the completion of their `opening movement, .the sleeves 11 come in-contact with the braking mechanisms, the spring 46 of which now provides a gradual cessation of movement which is completely stopped upon engagementof the clutch 44 with the f operating mechanism.

As soon as the mechanism is stopped the l automobile will continue on its way to pass over the threshold and into the garage, there torrest with its driving wheels in position for future operation Vupon the inner set Vof rollers;

Now by the arrangement of the gears, as

shown in Fig. 1, `and with the drive wheels of the car continuing their rotation in the same direction as before, the movement ofV the operating mechanism will obviouslybe reversed when said wheels rest upon the inl' ner rollers, and the reverse movement of the worm shaft will cause the doors to close and be secured against opening except by the v movement of the car wheels on the inside of the garage.

For movement out of the garage the drive wheels of the car are set in motion in the usual manner, but in the reverse direction to that requiredV to enter the garage, which movement opens the doors, and at the sameY time brakes theoperating mechanism when the car will pass over the drive rollers and move to a position outside of the garage.' It is now obvious that the car may be stopped upon the outer rollers Vand the doors closed as before explained orthe `doors may be left open and the car continue on its'way over the rollers if4 desired. Y

In thepemergency that the car cannot be operated and it is desiredfto open the doors,

the simple expedientof removing the boltsl 17 from the extension members 15 will permitV the doors to beY moved by manual operation. n y

vWhile it is shown that the ,drive shafts 21 extend in both directions and that obviously two connecting shafts 29 are used, the driv' ing mechanism maybe confined ,to one side only if deemed advisable.

Bythe proper placement of the worm shaft with respect to tained against malicious removal from the track as the worm shaft will prevent lifting the doors high enough for the purpose. y

I-Iaving thus'A described my invention, I cl'aim 1.v 'An operating means for closures, in combination with a power source and laterally sliding closures, a worm shaft disposed in thethreshold of and positioned parallel to the plane of movement of' said closures, sleeves threadedlyand yieldingly mounted on the track, the doors are main` the power source,

and' means to insulate the opera 1f and yieldingly mounted on said worm shaft for movement axially thereof and provided with extended members adapted for removable attachment to saidclosures, pairs of rollers mounted in the plane andA on either side I of said worm shaft and adapted for frictional engagement by the power source, an eXpansible operating mechanism connecting said e, worml shaft and said rollers and comprising laterally positioned drive shafts, a connecting shaft coupled with said drive shafts by means of gears, means to operate said worm shaft from said connecting shaft, a braking means cooperable with said sliding closures,

ting mechanism from teinperatureveffects.-

1 a 3.' An operati-ng; means for elosures, in com-- binationfwith a lpower source and-laterallyj sliding closures, a Worm shaft disposed and adapted to move said closures with a sliding ff late ral infovement, vsleeves threadedly andV yieldinglyniounted'on said worm shaft for movement axially thereof and provided with extended members 'adaptedjfor removable attachment to saidV closures andl disposed to maintain a constant operative relation` of shaftI and closure by compensating for sag of said closure and shaft, pairs of rollers mounted in therplane and on opposite sides of said worm shaft 'and adapted for fric-Y tional engagement by the.' power `source', 'an Y expansible operating mechanisml coiinec'tingv said Worm shaft and said rollers, and comprising laterally positioned expansible drive shafts,'eXpansible connecting shafts coupled withfsaid drive shafts by means of gears,l

gears associated with said connecting vshafts and adapted to drive said' .worm shaft,aii'd an eipansibleconnection therefor, a'bialing meanscooperable with said 'sliding closure 'i through said expansible" connectioiu' andy means to insulate the gears from temperature efects.r` 1 4. An operating means foiclosures, incom-v bination with a power source and a laterally -`sliding closure, a worin shaft disposedl and adapted tofmove said closure with-a slidingj lateral movement, sleeves threadedly and yieldingly mounted Von said wormis'lfiaftfor1v movement axiallyr thereof and provided with Y extended members adaptedfor removable at-4 e tachment to Isaid closure, and disposedto maintain a constantopeijative relation ofi shaft and closure by. compensating for sag of said closure andshaft, pairsof rollers mounted in lthe plane and `on opposite sides of said worin'shaft and adapted for frictional engagement bythe power source, an operating mechanism connecting said worm shaft and said rollers, and comprising laterallyl positioned eXpansible drive shafts, 'an eXpansible connecting shaft coupled with said drive shaft by means of gears, gears associated with ,said connecting shaft and adapted to drive saidl worm shaft, andan expansible connection therefor, a housing adapted to enclose said operating mechanism, means associated with the' housing to insulate said'mechaiiismA from temperature effects, and a braking means cooperable with said` sliding closure thi'ouglisaid Y expansible connection yand adapted to yprovide a braking effect to said' operating mechanism with the opening of l* said closures,

ln testimony whereof I affix my signature.

THOMAS L. DIGGINS.

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